maple kitchen table

Post Reply | Watch this Post

Teri, assuming that your table is solid wood and not one of the many tables that have been made and sold with a very nice picture of wood on plastic for a top surface, your refinishing will be an easy and fun project. Since it is scratched and stained, the first part of the job will be to smooth the table top and edges. If you have or can get a belt sander, this is the best tool for doing the sanding. It will flatten the surface, which is one of the normal parts of this job. If you don't have a belt sander, use an orbital sander and then finishing sander, or hand sand with a block. This is one of the few times when actually removing wood and not just clearing the surface is called for.

With the wood sanded flat, check for stains that remain. Since there are a lot of possibilities for the cause of the stain, let us know what you think the cause is and we can offer more specific remedies. After initial sanding and stain removal, which probably will result in a raised grain, LIGHTLY sand with 220 grit paper by hand.

Because of the possibility of food contact, "Salad Bowl Finish" by General Finishes or Behlen's is an excellent choice for a finish. Follow label directions. Several coats of white shellac would also be a good choice. You should be able to do the whole job in 2 days, maximum.

Henry in MI